4,000 mobile library users to benefit in villages and communities throughout the County.

Wexford County Council is to receive grant aid of €250,000 to fund a new mobile library for the County. The new vehicle will house up to 3,000 new books and will offer multimedia and modern IT facilities that are accessible to all.

The new state-of-the-art mobile library will allow for many of the new literacy promotion initiatives that are being provided by the library service to be made available to pre-schools and primary schools around the County. Its arrival will be welcome news to the 4,000 users of the mobile library service in villages and communities throughout the County.

Wexford County Council has two mobile library units, one based in Enniscorthy to serve the North of the county and one based in Wexford serving the South. Together they provide a vital library service to rurally isolated areas, serving over 50 community stops. More than 90,000 items are issued by the mobile service every year.

The new mobile library will be 100% grant funded by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and will be designed to meet the current demands of a modern Wexford Library Service. It replaces the previous mobile library which has been on the road since 1997.

Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council, Cllr. Tony Dempsey welcomed the announcement of funding for a new mobile library for the county.

"The mobile library service plays a vital role in ensuring that library services are available to every member of our community, young and old, regardless of where they reside. This new mobile library will complement the education system and significantly improve library services to towns and villages throughout the County" said Councillor Dempsey.

Acting County Librarian, Eileen Morrissey says the new mobile library will be available for use following a procurement and detailed design process. Ms. Morrissey described the mobile library service as a key element in the Council's programme to deliver modern library services across County Wexford, saying "The new mobile library will provide us with the ability to provide enhanced stock selection and other services to rural communities and promote reading, literacy and learning."

Timetables for the Mobile Library Service can be downloaded from www.wexford.ie or contact your local branch library for more information.